I-494 Auxiliary Lane & Noise Wall

Overview

Auxiliary Lane

Work begins August 6th!

Minnesota Department of Transportation (MnDOT) is constructing an auxiliary lane on I-494 westbound between Hardman Avenue and 7th Avenue South. This project also includes widening and repair of the bridge over Concord Street, drainage infrastructure improvements, roadside safety improvements, retaining walls and noise barrier construction, construction of the auxiliary lane, bituminous milling and overlay, and concrete pavement diamond grinding and repair of the existing roadway (Project Location Map (PDF)). More information about this project is available on MnDOT's website.

Work will be done in multiple stages with impacts to and from I-494 at Concord, Hardman, 5th and 7th Avenues. All work is scheduled to be complete by the fall of 2019.

Sound Walls

In South St. Paul, this roadway corridor is ranked no. 37 of 234 in the MnDOT 2016 Highway Noise Abatement Study. The proposed construction requires MnDOT to assess the existing noise levels and predict the future noise level and impacts. If noise impacts are identified, MnDOT is required by federal law to consider noise mitigation measures, such as installing noise barriers. MnDOT follows the requirements established by federal law, Federal Highway Administration Noise Abatement Criteria, Minnesota Pollution Control Agency State Noise Standards, and MnDOT’s Noise Policy and noise analysis guidelines.

Staff from MnDOT presented an update (PDF) on the project and the noise analysis determinations and process at the September 12, 2016, City Council Worksession meeting. MnDOT will be sending out information about the possible noise barriers to affected residents that includes a voting process. They presented a video that explains this process.

Votes are in.

Two of the walls will be constructed: Wall 1A & Wall 7.

Wall 1A: North side of I-494 between Fifth Avenue South and Concord St.(will be constructed)

Wall 3: South side of I-494 between Blaine Avenue and Seventh Avenue South(will not be constructed)

Wall 7: North side of I-494 between Blaine Avenue and Seventh Avenue South(will be constructed)